A report said that a programme of events in Scotland to promote healthy living awareness among pupils before their transition to secondary school had been successful in entertaining and stimulating pupils and in making them think about the issues relating to drugs, alcohol, and smoking.
Source: Justine Menzies and Katherine Myant, Review of Choices for Life, Scottish Executive, available from Blackwell's Bookshop (0131 622 8283)
Links: Report
Date: 2006-Nov
An article said that unplanned pregnancies might account for one-third of births in Scotland: 1 in 10 were totally unintended, while a quarter of women were ambivalent about their intention to get pregnant.
Source: Fatim Lakha and Anna Glasier, 'Unintended pregnancy and use of emergency contraception among a large cohort of women attending for antenatal care or abortion in Scotland', The Lancet, 18 November 2006
Links: Abstract
Date: 2006-Nov
A report made recommendations designed to prevent young people in Scotland from offending and coming into the youth justice system. It said that there was no single solution to reducing offending; a wide range of family, community, and individual approaches was needed.
Source: Report of the Youth Justice Improvement Group: Proposals for action, Scottish Executive, available from Blackwell's Bookshop (0131 622 8283)
Links: Report | SE response | SE press release | Young People Now report
Date: 2006-Oct
A review report examined the early years and childcare workforce in Scotland. The Scottish Executive responded by announcing new arrangements for training, career progression, and professional recognition.
Source: National Review of the Early Years and Childcare Workforce: Report and Consultation, Scottish Executive, available from Blackwell's Bookshop (0131 622 8283) | , Investing in Children s Futures: National Review of the Early Years and Childcare Workforce - Scottish Executive response, Scottish Executive, available from Blackwell's Bookshop
Links: Review report | SE response | SE press release
Date: 2006-Aug
Researchers in Scotland examined young people's attitudes towards post-compulsory education, and whether a system of learning entitlement would encourage educational re-engagement. Knowledge of the current system of funding for post-compulsory education varied, but was generally poor. Young people who did have some knowledge of the funding system expressed concerns that levels of funding were too low, that uptake would result in loss of benefits, and that the system was confusing and inequitable.
Source: Vicky Hopwood and Alison Hunter, Entitlement to Learning Scoping Study, Scottish Executive (web publication only)
Date: 2006-Aug
A study examined how young people from different minority ethnic groups experienced growing up in Scotland. Although most minority ethnic young people, like their white peers, chose to attend further or higher education after leaving secondary school, their choice of courses was less varied and concentrated primarily around the medical sciences. Family and community expectations also featured more in the decision-making process.
Source: Clare Cassidy, Rory O Connor and Nike Dorrer, Young People s Experience of Transition to Adulthood: A study of minority ethnic and white young people, York Publishing Services for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from York Publishing Services Ltd (01904 430033)
Links: Report | JRF Findings
Date: 2006-Jul
A report by a committee of MSPs supported a Bill intended to reform and extend the adoption system in Scotland.
Source: Stage 1 Report on the Adoption and Children (Scotland) Bill, 8th Report 2006, SP Paper 612, Scottish Parliament Education Committee, available from Blackwell's Bookshop (0131 622 8283)
Links: Report | SP press release
Date: 2006-Jun
A report presented findings from the Scottish Household Survey childcare questions. It examined differences in childcare arrangements, satisfaction with childcare and reasons for using childcare in relation to demographic characteristics of households; and whether satisfaction with childcare varied with the type of childcare provider used.
Source: TNS System Three Social Research, Scottish Household Survey Analytical Topic Report 2006: Childcare Module, Scottish Executive (web publication only)
Date: 2006-Jun
The Scottish Executive published an action plan designed to reduce the proportion of young people not in education, employment or training ('NEET').
Source: More Choices, More Chances: A strategy to reduce the proportion of young people not in education, employment or training in Scotland, Scottish Executive, available from Blackwell's Bookshop (0131 622 8283)
Links: Action plan | SE press release
Date: 2006-Jun
A report examined the problems and possibilities of incorporating a children as researchers perspective into the agenda of government social research in Scotland.
Source: Julie Brownlie, Simon Anderson, and Rachel Ormston, Children As Researchers, Scottish Executive (web publication only)
Links: Report
Date: 2006-Jun
A report said that provision aimed at young people in Scotland at risk of dropping out of education, training, and employment (the 'NEET' group) needed to be both flexible and diverse: it could not rely on one type of provider alone.
Source: Thomas Spielhofer, Gaby White, Lisa O Donnell, David Sims, Determined to Succeed and Young People at Risk of Becoming NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training), Scottish Executive (web publication only)
Date: 2006-Jun
Four linked reports were published from a study of youth transitions and crime, which followed a cohort of around 4,300 young people who started secondary schools in Edinburgh in the autumn of 1998. Involvement in delinquent behaviour was associated with living in neighbourhoods that were characterized by higher levels of deprivation. But deprivation at the individual or family level had no significant effect.
Source: Susan McVie and Paul Norris, Neighbourhood Effects on Youth Delinquency and Drug Use, Centre for Law and Society/University of Edinburgh | Susan McVie and Paul Norris, The Effect of Neighbourhoods on Adolescent Property Offending, Centre for Law and Society/University of Edinburgh | David Smith, Social Inclusion and Early Desistance from Crime, Centre for Law and Society/University of Edinburgh | David Smith, School Experience and Delinquency at Ages 13 to 16, Centre for Law and Society/University of Edinburgh (0116 252 5950)
Links: Report 1 | Report 2 | Report 3 | Report 4 | CLS press release | Young People Now report
Date: 2006-Jun
The Scottish Executive began consultation on proposals to require local councils to ensure that all food and drink supplied in their schools met set nutritional standards. This would not only include school meals, but also food and drink sold in vending machines. Junk food snacks and fizzy drinks not meeting the standards would be banned.
Source: Improving the Health and Nutrition of Scotland?s Children: Consultation on the Schools (Nutrition and Health Promotion) (Scotland) Bill, Scottish Executive, available from Blackwell's Bookshop (0131 622 8283)
Links: Consultation document | BBC report
Date: 2006-May
A report examined the quality of childminding in Scotland. It painted a generally upbeat portrait of dedicated carers, high quality services, and satisfied parents: but areas were identified where some services could improve.
Source: Review of the Quality of Childminding 2006, Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care, available from Blackwell's Bookshop (0131 622 8283)
Date: 2006-May
A think-tank report said that immediate action was needed to improve the range and capacity of the services in Scotland designed to meet the needs of children living with, and affected by, substance use.
Source: Patricia Russell, Have We Got Our Priorities Right? Children living with parental substance use, Abelour Child Care Trust (0131 669 5190)
Links: Report | ACCT press release
Date: 2006-May
A report set out what the Scottish Executive was doing with its local partners ? in education, health, social work, police and criminal justice ? to improve care and support for the children of parents who abused drugs. It also identified further action to be taken.
Source: Hidden Harm: Next Steps - Supporting Children, Working with Parents, Scottish Executive, available from Blackwell's Bookshop (0131 622 8283)
Links: Report
Date: 2006-May
A report evaluated a programme designed to prepare young people for the world of work through learning about enterprise and entrepreneurship, work-based vocational learning, and career education. Local authorities had made considerable progress towards increasing the opportunities for all pupils to engage in enterprise activities, especially for pupils in primary and special schools.
Source: Thomas Spielhofer, Gaby White, Matthew Walker and David Sims, National Evaluation of Determined to Succeed Phase 1, Scottish Executive, available from Blackwell's Bookshop (0131 622 8283)
Date: 2006-Mar
A report evaluated a programme designed to connect young people in Scotland with their communities. The programme had been well received at both local and national levels, and had generated "freshness and enthusiasm" around young people's engagement.
Source: York Consulting Limited, Evaluation of the Dialogue Youth Programme, Scottish Executive (web publication only)
Date: 2006-Mar
A report examined the services and projects for children and young people that had been funded in disadvantaged communities in Scotland through the Better Neighbourhood Services Fund. There had been a significant focus in BNSF on developing services for children and young people. Projects for children and young people accounted for an average of a third of the pathfinders budgets.
Source: Liz Shiel, Ian Clark and Francesca Richards, Children and Young People Services and Projects in the BNSF Programme, Scottish Executive (web publication only)
Links: Report
Date: 2006-Feb
A report called for an overarching review of the children s workforce in Scotland.
Source: Bronwen Cohen and Jim McCormick, Working for the Future: Re-imagining the children's workforce, Scottish Council Foundation (0131 225 4709), Children in Scotland, and International Futures Forum
Links: Summary
Date: 2006-Feb
An article said that evidence did not support the hypothesis that low socio-economic status in young Scottish children was associated with lower habitual physical activity or higher engagement in sedentary behaviour.
Source: L. Kelly et al., 'Effect of socioeconomic status on objectively measured physical activity', Archives of Disease in Childhood, Volume 91 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2006-Jan
